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New York lawmakers want to ban single-use hotel toiletries

Katherine Fan
Katherine Fan
Contributor
Katherine Fan is a former senior travel features reporter at The Points Guy who covered everything from personal finance to travel and aviation.
Sept. 20, 2019
•
2 min read
Six-Senses-Duxton-bath-amenities
New York lawmakers want to ban single-use hotel toiletries
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An entire state may join the war against single-use plastics.

Long Island Democratic Senator Todd Kaminsky, in partnership with a group of lawmakers, is leading a campaign to ban individually-packaged amenities in New York state hotels with more than 50 rooms. If passed, the law would go into effect by 2023, and smaller hotels would be required to follow suit by 2024. The group estimates the move would eliminate about 27.4 million plastic bottles annually.

Instead of miniature shampoo, conditioner and lotion bottles, travelers would get their lotions, potions and other liquid amenities either from wall-mounted refillable dispensers or reusable, recyclable bulk containers.

"By barring hotels from giving single-use plastic toiletries to customers, we are safeguarding our environment, and mitigating plastic waste and waterway pollution," Kaminsky said in his proposal.

New York isn't the first state to consider a statewide boycott of disposable plastic. California lawmakers are currently negotiating one of the nation's strictest proposed laws against plastic pollution. If the California law goes into effect, businesses found offering individual-sized plastic bottle amenities could face hefty fines of up to $2,000 for repeat infractions.

The law mirrors a move that several hotel chains have already proactively implemented in recent years: Marriott and IHG both announced they would eliminate individual-use plastics entirely by 2021, and other brands have begun shifting away from tiny toiletry bottles as well.

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Predictably, consumers have strong opinions on the topic of individual-use amenities. Frequent flyers recently raved to TPG about their favorite hotel toiletry brands, and some voiced concerns about quality control if hotel chains transitioned to dispensing amenities in bulk.

TPG's engagement and loyalty editor, Richard Kerr, recently made a strong case against the switch as well — a perspective that was vehemently endorsed by a number of readers from the TPG Lounge Facebook group. "Single-use plastics are a scourge on the environment and need to be eliminated," Kerr said. "However, instead of removing these plastics while simultaneously maintaining the customer experience, hotels have enacted a cost-cutting trend under the disguise of an environmentally-friendly move."

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.